The second Indie Playlist book promotion, sponsored by indie publishers Catapult, Europa Editions, 7 Stories Press, Grove Atlantic and Beacon Press, to help indie bookstores across the country is running this month and has two themes: Dystopia and Summer Reads, featuring titles from the five publishers.
Under the program, the titles involved are offered to indie bookstores at a higher-than-usual discount. At the same time, the presses are running a display contest based on the promotion, and the winner will receive $500, with half going to the store and half to the bookseller in charge of the display. The displays need to feature some of the titles and can include titles that aren't part of the promotion. The winner of the first Indie Playlist display contest, held in April, was created by Hannah Fenster and Emily Miller of The Ivy Bookshop, Baltimore, Md.
As recounted by the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association, which has been involved in the playlist from early on, the winning display "brought visual attention to the variety of titles and presses, with a display of spine-in books surrounding the spine-out 'quick reads' titles. Shelf talkers were attached to the spine-in titles."
The winners said, "We wanted to activate the display as a training mechanism, encouraging customers to look closely when they browse, and to learn the value (and delight) in seeking out small presses and 'quick reads' intentionally. It's been so exciting to watch customers engage with the display and walk away with new ideas about how to browse--and new books they wouldn't have discovered otherwise." Fenster added that many of the titles sold out on Independent Bookstore Day.
"The great thing so far about Indie Playlist initiative has been the enthusiasm of the participating booksellers," said Dan Simon, publisher of Seven Stories Press. "What we're hearing is that these books are selling off the shelf and that the booksellers love the flexibility of this initiative, as well as loving the added discount and the display contest. We're expecting strong national participation for the June Indie Playlists."
The Indie Playlist program grew out of a monthly promotion that Seven Stories launched in August of last year, inspired by discussions with NAIBA executive director Eileen Dengler and with NAIBA's president, about how independent publishers can run promotions that also support indie booksellers. The third Indie Playlist of the year will be released in October.
For more information, contact Eileen Dengler or Dan Simon.